Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School
 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
 Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

 DIVERGENT PATHWAYS: AN ANALYSIS OF RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN RISK
 OF RETIREMENT AND WORK DISABILITY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN
 AND WHITE WOMEN IN THE LABOR FORCE IN LATER MIDDLE-LIFE

 By

 Tyson H. Brown

 August 2003

Chair: Amy M. Pienta
Cochair: Charles W. Peek
Major Department: Sociology

 The purpose of the present is to explore the labor force exit patterns of African

American and White women. Inattention has been give to racial disparities in the labor

force exit behavior of African American and White women. Previous research on racial

disparities in retirement behavior among men indicates that, compared to White men,

African American men are more likely to exit the labor force via retirement or work

disability. The present study uses five waves of panel data from the Health and

Retirement study and the life course perspective to explore racial disparities in labor

force exit behavior among women. Analyses suggest that African American women are

disadvantaged relative to White women with respect to socioeconomic circumstances,

family patterns, wealth, and health. Importantly, results from multivariate event history

models indicate that, compared to White women, African American women are less

likely to exit the labor force via retirement and are more likely to exit the labor force via